The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. is bringing some of Canada’s best musicians to play alongside some of New Orleans’ most beloved players in an event to benefit the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic and local radio station WWOZ 90.7.
The event, taking place at the House of Blues tomorrow, will be aired live on the CBC reaching audiences across Canada. John Northcott, producer and creator, promises it will be an event to remember.
“This will be a true cross-border, cross-cultural musical conversation,” Northcott said.
Playing for Canada are Grammy-nominated singer and saxophonist Jane Bunnet, Daniel Lanois and his band and guitar giant David Go-Go who will be joined by 14-year-old Jimmy Bowskill. Indie hip-hop performer Buck 65 will play throughout the interludes.
Some of the artists representing New Orleans are Kermit Ruffins, Delfeayo Marsalis on the trombone, the Soul Rebels brass band and blues harpist Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone.
While a few artists, including Daniel Lanois, will play a solo set, most of the show will be a “musical conversation” in which the artists will perform together. All of the Canadian artists are heavily influenced by the music from New Orleans. But to keep things organized, Northcott has assigned sax player Phil Dwyer to be a sort of composer/ring leader to help make the show cohesive.
Many of the artists have played either in New Orleans or have performed with the local artists before. They have felt a loss from the disaster in New Orleans and hope that this contribution to the musician’s clinic will help maintain the city’s music scene thriving.
According to Wendy Keller, manager of nurse practitioners at the Musician’s Clinic, the clinic is a nonprofit organization where local doctors come in on their free time to offer inexpensive healthcare to musicians. The money raised will help put instruments back in the hands of artists who lost their equipment because of the storm. The clinic also provides them with affordable check-up visits, discounted or free medication and free flu vaccines.
Tickets for the show are $10. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the show begins and 6 p.m.
Michelle Lopez can be reached at [email protected].
